Car Idles Too High

Reader Question

Hi I have a 1993 Chevy cavalier good condition but I do have a question when I brake it at a stop light it seems to idle too high do you know what would cause that and what I need to do to fix it. thank you for any input you may have. Thanks Christine

Hi Christine

I would have your mechanic look at the following:

1. the base idle setting “to make sure the idle speed is not set too high”

2. Make sure there is nothing in the way of the throttle cable that might not let the cable return to the idle position.

3. Check the idle air control motor, sometimes they need to be cleaned of dirt and built up carbon

4. make sure the throttle body is clean and nothing is in the way

5. make sure there is not a vacuum leak somewhere; listen for a hissing noise with the engine running and the hood up. Also look for any rubber vacuum hose that might have broken off its connector.

Sometime the big black hard plastic hose from the air cleaner to the engine will get a hole in it and cause a large vacuum leak, especially inspect the bottom side of this hose for leaks.

You will probably need to have your mechanic check these for you or someone who is “mechanical” all of these are easy to do and should be fairly inexpensive to check.

Please share this with your friends,

Austin C. Davis

My video about cleaning the throttle body yourself